Statue of Liberty

Hard to believe, but a week ago at this time we were climbing the stairs to the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York.  My picture looks like a postcard, but I think any picture, anyone takes, would look like an awesome postcard!  What a beautiful lady, rich with history and charm .... how many people have seen her from this view?  Through the walking tour you get to use a head phone sound system that you press to hear in each separate area of the tour.  It was interesting to see the middle school boys just rush through the historical area to get to the 'good' part and climb the stairs.

Another pretty picture is a view looking at my porch and the fuscias I'm trying not to kill.  I want to be a hanging plant person, but I'm just like that commercial on tv.... water too much?  don't water enough?  root rot??? Positive, positive vibes, here's to healthy living and healthy plants!!!

Yikes, the kids are home from their 2nd to last day of finals.... so much to do all of sudden!!

Top of the Rock

We did a lot that first day in NYC.  We even went to the top of the Rock.  When did it change?  I mean I thought it was always called Rockefeller Center, I know they have to change the marketing ideas.  We walked all the way around the center, where they skate in the winter time, where the Christmas (or is it the Holiday) tree is lit, where the Today show films, SNL etc.... Lots of people, lots of flags, lots of tourists, and lots of police!!!  I will probably have to check DH's pics to see if we got any night time views.  The city of lights, the city that never sleeps....We went to the top at 10:20pm.  It was strange, lines of people waiting to go in, but then there were others just walking into the building.  We didn't want to cut and seem rude... but found out it was a tour group waiting for their time to go up! DH and I both have a very different perspective of the city now that we actually now what the New York newscasters are talking about!!

And if that was the top of the Rock, then the top dog of your family would be Pops, here is a male-ish card for father's day. A slider card, You are Special.  This was the card I sent out to 3 of my peeps who are part of the COTM (card of the month club)  I felt the deep colors and the star were more masculine!!

Today is the beginning of finals for high school.  The kids are still home, waiting for their scheduled exams.  Summer is about to begin!

If you believe my tweet, I have a bridge to sell ya!

So many projects, so little time.  Over at the House of Shine (formerly Highlowaha) I have been working on some things... some secret, some not... eventually they are hoping that some of my creative greetings!! can go in their on line awning shop and so those interested in being involved in the Yellow Envelope Project can purchase my cards for that, and/or actually any occasion.  Here is one of the cards, sticking along the yellow theme!  Because you SHINE much better with yellow and orange tones, don't you think??

I'm also working on the mural for the pre-school.  I've brought my supplies in from the garage and am painting on the ping pong table in the basement. Much cooler down there!  I'm just waiting for my styrofoam cutter to come in the mail and that project is almost done.  Pictures to come... some day.  I also notice in my files I have pictures of my garden from the front yard I haven't posted yet, pictures of Bubba's million dollar smile and a few other secret projects.  Today is the high schools last official day before finals.... so I've got to do some secret shopping before the kids are with me 24/7!

Up close and personal, the Brooklyn Bridge! You learn so much when you take a tour, the guide gives out facts, fast and mostly with a Brooklyn (so I think) accent.  The year built, who built it, one of the first suspension bridges.  It is magnificent and huge and all built before 1900.... what technology for those times!! Our tour guide Mindy and bus driver Russell, who of course are in the service industry and work for tips... stopped on the side of  one of the roads below the bridge and near the East River.... it was a bright and beautiful afternoon for a tour of Manhattan.

so I took a picture of our shadows from atop the double decker bus, so you can pick us out, DH is waving! Silly me, I had no idea that Manhattan was literally an island.  I mean I figured Long Island was an island... but didn't know New York City was an island.... all the bridges and ferries. Amazing!  I loved the tours!

The Sphere

This is a beautiful sculptured globe that was between the Twin Towers in New York City, downtown Manhattan. We visited there last Friday, May 21, 2010.  It now is a memorial in Battery Park, the entrance to the area where we hopped a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  You can check out what it originally looked like before September 11, 2001, here. What a beautiful day, a beautiful park and a very fun tour guide who took us on the subway from Time Square to get here, the southern tip of the city.  Our guide, Darrel looked like a tall Matthew Broderick from Brighten Beach Memoirs, with the Brooklyn accent and the wide grin. I'll have to check through dh's (dear hubby) photos to see if he has a pic of the Squirrel Man.  A nice older gentleman who must enjoy entertaining the tourists (and getting a tip or two) .... he sits on a bench near our group of 34 and squirrels from the park come from all over to eat nuts from his hands.  Then he summons people over who are watching him, teaches them how to hold their hands, and the squirrels jump on them to nab a nut!

Laugh out loud, I got some new paper, saw a layout and came up with this simple (hee hee) layered card. Love the butterfly!

I'm about 4 hours behind in my day today!  Bubba got his braces taken off early this morning, 2 years & 2 months!  His smile is gorgeous!!  Some time soon, I'll show before and after.

Got Coffee??

Happy Monday morning!  It's supposed to make it up to over 90 today!  The dogs and I have been up for hours to try and walk as early as possible.  I watered a few plants so they don't wilt!  Here is a card I made for CKB.  She is part of my Card of the Month group. (COTM) Each month for the entire year, she and 3 others get a 'surprise' card in the mail. This special card relates some how to the season or holiday of the month.  For instance, the rest of the group got a "you are special" card.... male-ish looking.  They could use it for Father's day.  (I'll post at a later date)

CKB requested 'coffee' themed cards.  She then would use them to invite a friend out for coffee  I love the faux postage stamps!  This is actually a 'digi' card.  Images I created on the computer (clip art???)

On our first day in the Big Apple, within the first hour of wondering about Time Square, we were approached by many types of people, selling stuff, requesting stuff etc.... we were leery, but had fun with all the excitement.  One nice looking, tall, young man approached us and told us he was with the David Letterman show.  He showed us his 'official' I.D.~ would we be interested in seeing a live taping of the show that afternoon?.... Jeff and I looked at each other and said, yes!! He asked a few questions, looked at our ID asked us to promise him that we would really be there for the FREE tickets and told us which street to go to.  So, here we are!!!  We got to see Kathryn Heigl (promoting Killers with Ashton Kutcher).... last Thursday at 4:30pm.  Although we USED to be David Letterman fans... it was a fun FREE experience and totally un-expected!!  The band was excellent!! How fun!

New York City- Time Square

We just got back from 3 days packed with complete touristy stuff in New York City. We were there to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary on May 19. Here is the view from our 22nd floor window, looking down and north of Time Square Check out all the yellow cabs. The red area, bottom left was a fun place to sit and people watch. All around that 'stand' was the lines of people waiting to purchase half price tickets to Broadway shows that were NOT sold out. Tall, lit and unlit billboardsk signs, advertisements, huge, flashing, amazing. Also, notice the red double deck bus, we eventually took a ride up and down Broadway and 5th Ave, enjoyable! Stay tuned for posts all this week about our trip to New York City, or as we learned.... originally.... New Amsterdam.